Apparatus for dispensing liquid or semi-liquid substances



H. BECHER Sept. 29, 1959 APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING LIQUID OR SEMI-LIQUID SUBSTANCES Filed March 19, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet l NVENTOR. @OW/ gaan/e7 ,Mr/ray Sept. 29, 1959 H. BECHER 2,906,300

v APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING LIQUID OR SEMI-LIQUID SUBSTANCES Filed March 19, 195'? 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. /7/77f/0 ged/e 7 Unite APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING LIQUID R SEMI-LIQUID SUBSTAN CES Heinrich Becher, Uckerath, Bezirk Koln, Germany ,Application March 19, 1957, Serial No. 647,085 iClaims priority, application Germany March 21, 1956 13 Claims. (Cl. 141-30) may for example be a cosmetic. Consider for example4 the employment of liquid shampoo for washing the hair; as is well known, two or even three separate amounts of shampoo are required for several washes one after the other. If the small amounts of shampoo needed for each hair wash are taken from a large reservoir there is a danger that shampoo will be wasted, since the pump can be actuated any number of times by the user. This disadvantage is eliminated by the apparatus according to the invention, which consists of a reservoir and a smaller container Iinto which a liquid or semi-liquid material is drawn oif from the larger reservoir, and from which a number of smaller amounts of the liquid or semi-liquid material can again be drawn if required. With the aid of this apparatus it becomes possible to provide a supply of the material in a number of small containers, which for example might be of such a size that the contents of a small container are sulicient for one hair wash. The consumption of shampoo can therefore be kept under close control. Apart from this the apparatus according to the invention makes it also possible to iill asmall container with different liquids from several reservoirs in definite proportions, in order to obtain definite mixes for example for dying the hair.

In order to simplify the tilling operation, the reservoir is iitted with a plunger piston pump, whose cylinder is provided with a hole, closed by a valve, in its lower end which is close to the bottom of the reservoir, and Whose spring-loaded piston is provided with an axial hole allowing the ow of liquid; according to the invention, the axial hole of the piston contains a nozzle whilst the smaller container is provided with a connecting piece intended for iilling and emptying and of a shape corresponding to that of the nozzle such that the nozzle is a liquid-tight tit inside the connecting piece or the connecting piece inside the nozzle, and the dimensions of the smaller cylindrical container on the one hand and of the cylinder of the plunger piston pump on the other hand are,

such that the smaller cylindrical container can slide within the cylinder in the manner of a piston rod, to compress the pump piston against the spring force exerted by its actuating spring, whilst at the same time the liquid or semi-liquid substance is pumped from the reservoir through the nozzle and connecting piece into the smaller container. The liquid so drawn ot is taken from the smaller container through the connecting piece or at its upper end which for this purpose can be provided with a Wide variety of closing devices.

The actuating spring of the plunger piston pump is placed between the lower end of the cylinder and the under side of the piston.

States Patent lO Patented sept. 29, 1959 The nozzle in the axial hole of the piston and/or the connecting piece of the smaller cylindrical container can be closed by a valve.

In order t-o enable the plunger piston pump to be inserted easily into the reservoir and in particular to be located securely, the upper edge of the cylinder can, according to the invention, be ilanged such that the anged edge rests on top of the neck of the reservoir, the top of which is in turn closed by a cap, for example by screwing it on. The screwedcap presses the lianged edge down on the neck of the reservoir; the top of the cap is provided with a hole corresponding to the size of the smaller cylindrical containerwhich can accomodate the connecting piece joined to the piston of the plunger piston pump.

In order to provide the cylindrical container, which performs the function of a .piston rod, with a guiding constraint when its connecting piece is inserted into the nozzle, for the purpose of the lling operation and when it is pressed downwards against the force of the spring, the cap has preferably a cylindrical projection at its top, with a conical hole increasing in diameter at its lower end and having a minimum internal diameter equal to the outside diameter of the smaller cylindrical container.

lIn order to limit the stroke of the piston, which is pressed upwards by the force of the spring, the cap carries a stop at its lower end which extendsinwardly of the cylinder of the plunger piston pump.

Since it will be unavoidable that during the filling operation some liquid will trickle down the nozzle or the connecting piece, passages are provided in the cylinder wall above the upper end of the piston travel and level with that also in the upper cylindrical projection of the cap, by means of which the hole inside this projection is in communication with an annular space which is formed between the cylinder and the neck of the reservoir. Any liquid which during the filling process trickles into the hole inside the cylindrical projection of the cap can thus return into the reservoir through these passages.

The cap may have an axial hole into which the pump cylinder is tted, whilst a bush is provided inside the top of the cylinder which is used asa stop for the piston.

vThe bush has a series of ribs or bars which serve as guides for the smaller cylindrical container. Furtheri more, passages may be provided in the bush and the cylinder wall leading into an annular space formed between the cylinder and the neck of the reservoir enabling any liquid trickling down from the nozzle or from the connecting piece to return to the reservoir.

In order to limit the amount of liquid or semi-liquid substance ilowing into the smaller cylindrical container at each stroke of the piston, the outside wall of the smaller cylindrical container may be provided with a circumferential bead. The smaller cylindrical container can then be inserted downwards into the hole or similar guide provided for its movement until the bead cornes in contact with the cap or the above mentioned bush. Another way of fulfilling the same purpose is to provide the lower end of the smaller cylindrical container with a cylindrical projection of reduced diameter and to dimension'the diameter for example of the bush provided atv The limitation of the length of travel of the smaller`v cylindrical container, when the latter is used in the manner of a piston rod for the filling operation, makes it possible to fill the smaller cylindrical container only to a small part of its volume at each stroke of the piston, so that it is possible to fill the smaller cylindrical container with different liquids in definite proportions which depend on the length of the stroke of the piston in each filling operation, so that a mixture of various substances, as for example required for dying the hair, can be prepared in a simple manner.

In order to make it possible to draw off definite quantities of the substance contained in the smaller cylindrical container, the smaller cylindrical container may be provided with a piston which can move between two end positions, and whose movements can be adjusted in steps for the supply of parts of the contents of the container. The limiting positions of the piston are determined by the distance between the top and the bottom of the smaller container. The step-by-step adjustment of the piston is effected preferably by means of a bush which can be moved longitudinally inside the cover or the smaller cylindrical container between the two end positions, and which adjusts the position of the piston rod, and whose length relative to the piston rod determines the proportions.

To enable the invention to be fully understood it will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a sectional view of a liquid dispensing device;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of a modified form of plunger piston pump;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line III-III of Fig. 2;

Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7 are sectional views of different forms of containers;

Figs. 8, 9 and 10 show further forms of cylindrical container. Fig. 8 being an outside view and Figs. 9 and 10 sectional views showing different positions of the piston.

To. avoid repetition the same reference numbers are used in the accompanying drawings for the same parts.

According to Fig. 1, the device includes a reservoir 1, in which a plunger piston pump is inserted, the pump consisting of a cylinder 2, provided with an orifice 4 at its lower end closed by a valve 3 through which liquid or a semi-liquid substance in the reservoir 1 can be drawn into the cylinder 2. A spring 5 is located in the cylinder which urges the piston 6 of the pump upwards. The pump piston 6 is provided with an axial bore containing a nozzle 7 whose lower end is closed by a valve 8. The neck 9 of the container is provided with an external thread onto which a cap 10, which is provided with an 1Internal thread is screwed. The cap 10 presses the upper flanged edge 11 of the cylinder 2 firmly on to the upper edge of the neck 9. The cap is provided with a cylindrical extension 13 having a bore having a diameter approximately equal to the internal diameter of the cylinder 2. As shown the bore 12 is of conical shape and the nozzle 7 is disposed centrally therein. The diameter of the conical bore 12 at its smaller end is equal to the outside diameter of the smaller cylindrical container as shown for example in Fig. 4.

The cap 16 is also provided with a shoulder 14 extending inwardly of the cylinder 2, and serves as a stop to limit the upward travel of the piston 6, and at the same time makes provision for a return path for any liquid trickling back down the nozzle 7. For this purpose an annular space is formed between the cylinder 2 and the neck 9 and there is also provided a passage 16 in the cylinder wall above the upper limit of the piston travel communicating with a passage 17 in the projecting shoulder 14 of the cap 10, so that liquid can return from the bore 12 of the cap into the reservoir 1.

"According to the modified plunger piston pump as shown in Fig. 2, the cylinder 2' is set in an axial hole in the cap 10' which can be screwed on to the neck 9 of the reservoir shown in Fig. l, and a bush 18 is provided inside the upper end of the cylinder 2' having a number of vertical ribs or bars 19, 20 etc. which form guides for the smaller cylindrical container. The bush 18 also serves as a stop to limit upward travel of the piston 6' which is provided with the nozzle 7. The bush 18 and the cylinder wall 2 are provided with a number of openings 21 and 21', through which any liquid which trickles down for example from the nozzle 7 can, return to the reservoir 1.

The smaller cylindrical containers shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 7 into which a liquid or semi-liquid substance is to be filled from the reservoir 1 shown in Fig. 1, consists essentially of a cylinder 22, whose lower end is provided with a connecting piece 23, which is provided with an axial hole 24, which contains a ball valve 26, which is acted upon by a spring 25. The connecting piece is provided with a small projection 27 in the shape of a nipple which can be inserted into the upper end of the nozzle 7 of the plunger piston pump of the reservoir 1, so as to form a fluid-tight joint.

According to the embodiment as shown in Fig. 6, the cylindrical container 22 has at its lower end a small cylindrical projection 28, which on the one hand is in communication with the cylindrical container 22 by means of a hole 29, and which on the other hand is provided with a connecting piece 30, which is closed by a valve 32, which is under the action of a spring 31. The size of the connecting piece 30 corresponds to that of the nozzle 7 of the plunger piston pump shown in Fig. 2, such that the connecting piece 30 can be inserted into the nozzle 7 so as to form a fluid-tight joint. The outside diameter of the projection 28 is so dimensioned that the projection is guided by the ribs or bars 19, 20 etc.

The manner of operation of the apparatus according to the invention is as follows:

Assuming that one of the smaller cylindrical containers 22 (Figs. 4, 5 or 7) is to be filled with a liquid from the reservoir 1, the connecting piece 23 of the respective container 22 is inserted into the nozzle 7 of the reservoir 1 and at the same time this nozzle, together with the piston 6 of which it forms a part, is forced downwards against the force of the spring 5 into the cylinder 2 by exerting downward pressure on the container 22. During this action the container 22 acts like a piston rod, and slides in the axial bore 12. During this downward movement, the valve 3 remains closed whilst the valves 8 and 26 are open, so that the air contained inside the cylinder 2 can escape through the cylindrical container 22. If now the downward pressure on the cylindrical container 22 is released, it will be pushed upwardly by the spring 5 and during this movement, the valves 8 and 26 will be closed whilst the valve 3 will open and liquid will be sucked from the reservoir 1 through the orifice 4 into the cylinder 2. If the container 22 is now again moved downwardly, the liquid in the cylinder 2 will be forced into the container 22, since during the downward movement of the container 22 the valves 8 and 26 will be open and the valve 3 closed. When the container 22 is again moved upwardly, the cylinder 2 will be immediately refilled with liquid, so that another container can be filled.

The cylindrical containers shown in Figs. 4 and 7 will be lled completely during one operation, since it can be inserted to its entire length into the cylinder 2.

The container shown in Fig. 5, on the other hand, is provided with a circumferential bead 28 on the outside of the cylinder, which during the downward movement of the container into the cylinder 2 comes into contact with the extension 13, of the cap 10, so that this container can during each downward stroke only be lled to a depth'as determined by the position of this bead 28'. It is thus possible to fill the container 22 with predetermined amounts of different liquids taken from different reservoirs.

The container 22 shown inv Fig. 6, is provided with graduation markings and is also intended to be filled with liquids taken from different reservoirs. The lower end of this container will come into contact with the bush 18 of the cylinder shown in Fig. 2, so that during each downward stroke thev container 22 will only be filled to a fraction of its volume.

The liquids in the containers 22 or 22' respectively can be used immediately, or they .can be kept in store. The containers are closed by means of a cover 33 shown in Fig. 7, which is clipped over or screwed on to the upper end of the container. If the connecting piece 23 is entirely inside the container, as shown in Fig. 7, the lower end of the cylindrical container forms a base so that the container can stand upright.

The cylindrical container shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10 consists essentially of a cylindrical body 34 Whose ends are closed by a cover 35 and a bottom 36. A piston 37 moves inside the body 34, its stroke being limited by the bottom 36 at one end and by the cover 35 at the other end. The bottom 36 is provided with a connecting piece 38 shaped like a nipple which can be inserted into the nozzle 7 or 7 respectively. The piston 37 is provided with a piston rod 39 which slides inside a sleeve 40. The sleeve 40 in turn slides inside a bore in the cover 35 and is provided with a ange 41 in order to facilitate its adjustment. The cover 3S has a similar flange 42 for the same purpose.

The small cylindrical container 34 is filled in the same way as described in connection with the containers 22 or 22' respectively. During the filling operation, the piston 37 slides outwardly towards the cover 35, taking the sleeve 40 with it in the same direction. The container 34 is shown in the lled state in Fig. 8, in which the position of the piston inside the body is indicated by dotted lines.

In this position of the piston, the outer end of the piston rod 39 projects for a certain length from the sleeve 40, and the sleeve in turn projects fornearly its full length from the cover 35. In order to eject the Airst part of the contents, the cylindrical container is held by means of the index linger and middle finger on either side of the sleeve 40 near the ange 41, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 8, whilst pressure is exerted by the thumb on the end of the piston rod 39 of the piston 37 in the direction of the arrow. This forces the piston rod 39 into the sleeve 40 until its end is level with the outside of the ange 41, which limits the travel of the piston rod 39. The piston rod in turn has during this y movement pushed the piston 37 inside the container 34 by a distance a in the direction of the bottom 36, so that the piston occupies the position indicated in Fig. 9 and has ejected part of the liquid through the connecting piece 38.

In order to eject the remainder of the contents, the container 34 is held as before close to the ange 42, as indicated by means of arrows in Fig. 9, and a pressure is exerted on the end of the piston rod 39 and on the ange 41, as indicated in Fig. 9. This will push the piston through a distance b until it comes into contact with the bottom 36 and the parts assume the relative positions as indicated in Fig. l0.

As will be seen from Figs. 8 to 10, the proportion in which the contents is dispensed can be varied by adjusting the ratio of the length a to the length a-l-b; this can be done in a simple manner by altering the ratio of the length of the sleeve 40 to the length of the piston rod 39, for example by using a sleeve having a different length. Y y

'Whatlclaimis: A i Y i 1. Apparatus for dispensing liquid or semi-liquid'sub-1 stance comprising a reservoir having an opening in its top, a cylinder xedly mounted in said reservoir having its upper end in said opening and its lower end near the bottom of the reservoir, said lower end having an opening therein, a rst check valve means in said cylinder opening for preventing ow from the cylinder into said reservoir, a piston slidable inside the cylinder, spring means in the cylinder below the piston normally urging the piston upward, said piston having an axial hole therethrough, a second check valve means' in said hole for preventing ow through the piston in a downward direction, said piston having an upwardly directed nozzle communicating with said reservoir opening and having an internal seat therein, means limiting the upward movement of said piston to maintain the nozzle in its uppermost position at least substantially-as low as lthe top ofthe reservoir, and a container having an opening thereinto and having a portion around said container opening engageable in said seat, said container having outer dimensions at least as small as the inner dimensions of said cylinder so as to be slidable thereinto to force the piston downwardly in the cylinder against the action of said spring means.

2. In a device as claimed in claim 1, a third check valve means in said container opening to prevent ow from within the container through said container opening.

3. Apparatus according to claim l wherein the upper edge of the pump cylinder has a ilange which rests on the neck of the reservoir, a cap on top of the ange having a bore whose diameter equals that of the container.

4. Apparatus as claimedv in claim 3 in which the bore is of conical shape.

5. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said limiting means comprises a projection on said cap extending inwardly of the cylinder to form a stop to limit the upward travel of the piston.

6. In apparatus according to claim 5, an annular space formed between the pump cylinder and the neck of the reservoir, said pump cylinder having a wall, the wall of the pump cylinder and shoulder having passages therethrough above the upper limit of travel of the piston to permit thel return flow of liquid from the axial bore of the cap into the reservoir through said annular space.

7. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the cap has an axial bore into which the pump cylinder is inserted, and a bushing inside the upper end of the cylinder, said bushing having ribs serving as guides for the container, said pump cylinder having a wall, and passages in the bushing and the adjacent part of the wall of the pump cylinder to permit liquid to flow back into the reservoir.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the outside of the container is provided with a circumferential bead adapted to serve as a stop. v

9. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the container is provided with a plunger which slides between two extreme positions and whose stroke can be adjusted in steps to dispense parts of the total contents of the container.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the container has a cover and the extreme positions of the plunger are determined by the distance between the bottom and the cover of the container.

1l. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the container has a cover, a sleeve which can slide between two extreme positions in a longitudinal direction inside the cover. of the container, the plunger having a rod connected thereto, the sleeve having a bore in which the plunger rod is slidably mounted, the length of the sleeve being so related to the length of the plunger rod as to permit the contents of the container to be discharged in regulated steps. i Y

12. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the cv'er and the sleeve are both provided with outwardly projectin'g anges.

13. In apparatus as claimed in claim 1, said cylinder having openings therein located above the upper limit of 5# travel of the piston communicating with the interior of the cylinder above the piston and with the interior of the reservoir to permit flow from above the piston back to the reservoir.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Meunier June 27, 1933 YTerry Aug. 22, 1939 Terry June 4, 1940 Bolsey Marv. 6, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS Italy Nov. 15, 1954 

